Well, it’s time for my “Efemerides” a fancy Spanish word for the list of highlights of the year, but to make it easy I have decided to make it short and sweet, a point-n-click kind of thing, scroll down and you’ll find the best of 2012 in my “small world”
- Jan - ASG Symposium The Austin Songwriters Group organizes its annual symposium in January, and I, like every year, attended the 2012 edition it is a great way to start the engines, make new connections and simply enjoy and nurture from the inspiration of other fellow songwriters The Austin Songwriters Group organizes its annual symposium in January, and I, like every year, attended the 2012 edition it is a great way to start the engines, make new connections and simply enjoy and nurture from the inspiration of other fellow songwriters
- Mar - FIA 2012 in Costa Rica - I had the opportunity to attend the International Arts Festival of Costa Rica and met with the main actors of the Central American music industry. Here you see Aurelio Martinez from Honduras playing his Garifuna music I had the opportunity to attend the International Arts Festival of Costa Rica and met with the main actors of the Central American music industry. Here you see Aurelio Martinez from Honduras playing his Garifuna music
- Apr - South by Four - I had the opportunity of hosting a singer songwriter showcase with four artists from South America in Austin I had the opportunity of hosting a singer songwriter showcase with four artists from South America in Austin
- Apr - Recording Helado Pop - After several months working in the studio, artwork and promotional material everything was ready to release my 3rd CD in April 2012 After several months working in the studio, artwork and promotional material everything was ready to release my 3rd CD in April 2012
- Apr - Helado Pop CD Release - The big day was set for Apr 26th at Copa bar and Grill the same place where my 2nd CD was launched 4 years before The big day was set for Apr 26th at Copa bar and Grill the same place where my 2nd CD was launched 4 years before
- May - 5th Anniversary of Cafe con Letras. Around that time, we had to leave Ruta Maya because they were closing operations. We started a quest to find a new place for this event. It was Janitzio Restaurant that genereously offered to be our new home for the rest of the year We celebrated our 5th year with the Latin American Cultural Alliance putting together a monthly event "Cafe con Letras". This year there was some struggling finding a new home after Ruta Maya closing finally we landed at Janitzio Restaurant that genereously has allowed us to hold our cultural event every month.
- Jul - Noche de Baile at Ruta Maya - This was a night of latin music showcasing the most danceable Central American music of our repertoire and it was our farewell to this legendary stage of Ruta Maya Coffee House that was going to close doors a few months later This was a night of latin music showcasing the most danceable Central American music of our repertoire and it was our farewell to this legendary stage of Ruta Maya Coffee House that was going to close doors a few months later
- Jul - Concert at Palacio Tecleño - I had the opportunity to release Helado Pop in El Salvador and we had the luck of arranging the event at the beautiful Municipal Palace in Santa Tecla, it was so cool to see so many friends and share the music with them I had the opportunity to release Helado Pop in El Salvador and we had the luck of arranging the event at the beautiful Municipal Palace in Santa Tecla, it was so cool to see so many friends and share the music with them
- Jul - Desconectados TV - During my visit to El Salvador in July, I had the opportunity to record a TV show at Desconectados TV of the National Television channel. There I enjoyed playing with a group of talented Salvadoran musicians During my visit to El Salvador in July, I had the opportunity to record a TV show at Desconectados TV of the National Television channel. There I enjoyed playing with a group of talented Salvadoran musicians
- Aug - The preparation of Centroamericanto Fest 2012 started right after getting back from El Salvador. A team of volunteers worked hard organizing the 4th Central American Festival. There was a lot of work to do behind scenes long before the first chord was played on the stage After I got back from El Salvador we started working hard organizing the 4th Central American Festival to be held in September. There was a lot of work behind scenes going on long before the first chord was played on the stage
- Sep - Centroamericanto Fest 2012 - This was without a doubt the biggest challenge of the year and also the most rewarding; a lot of work hours were pour into this project to bring central american music to Austin and do it in a public place. This picture sumarizes that it was worth and superlatively enjoyable The big day came. This was without a doubt the biggest challenge of the year, a lot of work hours were pour into this project to bring central american music to Austin and do it in a public place. This picture sumarizes that it was worth and superlatively enjoyable
- Sep - Band members - I want to express my gratitude to my bandmates that were so diligent and hard working during all these years but specially in 2012. This goes to Teresita Ramos, Jim Watson, Caesar Garcia, Marcel Ribas, Leonardo Vasquez, Kristian Diaz and Joshua Thompson This is a special picture to welcome our new musician friends and to express my gratitude to my bandmates that were so diligent and hard working during all these years but specially in 2012. This goes to Jim Watson our drummer, Caesar Garcia our piano player both have been playing with me since 2010; to Marcel Ribas our bass player, Leonardo Vasquez who helped us during the recording of Helado Pop, Michael Ramos producer of the record, Kristian Diaz and Joshua Thompson who started playing with us late in the year but you do not need too much time to recognize a good friend disguised as a musician.
- Aug - Dallas Latino Cultural Center - This was a great experience to take the band with me and perform at the Latino Cultural Center of Dallas. Besides our regular music we created a special set for children that went very well This was a great experience to take the band with me and perform at the Latino Cultural Center of Dallas. Besides our regular music we created a special set for children that went very well
- Oct - La Chaparrita at Highland Mall - Here is a good example of talent, enthusiasm and charism. This little restaurant has managed to revive the food court of the Highland Mall by organizing cultural gatherings in a very unusual setting. This is one of my favorite places of 2012, you should try their food! Here is a good example of talent, enthusiasm and charism. This little restaurant has managed to revive the food court of the Highland Mall by organizing cultural gatherings in a very unusual setting. This is one of my favorite places of 2012, you should try their food!
- Nov - New York - I had the opportunity to play at ZirZamin in New York during a little tour to the area, just a few days after the storm Sandy. I had the opportunity to play at ZirZamin in New York during a little tour to the area, just a few days after the storm Sandy.
- Nov - Neighbors Link Connecticut - I played for a benefit organized by a dynamic new non-profit called Neighbors Link Stamford for a lovely audience. It was great to see old friends and make new ones, specially the two musicians that helped me with the show, Jackie Martino and John Stuart. November In Connecticut I played for a benefit organized by a dynamic new non-profit called Neighbors Link Stamford for a lovely audience. It was great to see old friends and make new ones, specially the two musicians that helped me with the show, Jackie Martino and John Stuart.
- Dec - Women and Fair Trade Festival - An all time favorite of us, this festival organized for "Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera". The event allows women artisans from abroad to show and sell their crafts directly to the public. This wonderful picture was taken by Gena Fleming An all time favorite of us, this festival organized for "Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera". The event allows women artisans from abroad to show and sell their crafts directly to the public. This wonderful picture was taken by Gena Fleming
- Dec - Navidad en los Andes was a beautiful program that showed the holiday music from the Andes. We collaborated with Bolivian pianist Gilka Cespedes and a group of talented musicians and friends on a couple of songs.
- Dec - Que Paso! TV - We recorded a video for the new local TV show: Que Paso! TV a new venture of the monthly publication Que Paso Paisano! Magazine. The video was shot at La Peña Gallery, this was a great way to wrap up the year although the show is still to be aired in January 2013 We recorded a video for the new local TV show: Que Paso! TV a new venture of the monthly publication Que Paso Paisano! Magazine. The video was shot at La Peña Gallery a special place for me because La Peña was the first place were I played in Austin back in 2002, the they became friends, mentors and this is a great way to wrap up the year although the show is still to be aired in January 2013
- Dec - East Side Austin Jam Session - One of the last things I did this year was to attend one of the ESL jam sessions at the Sahara Lounge organized by Kiko Villamizar. I think this was the perfect way to wrap up the year just having fun making music with good friends One of the last things I did this year was to attend one of the ESL jam sessions at the Sahara Lounge organized by Kiko Villamizar. I think this was the perfect way to wrap up the year just having fun making music with good friends
- January 2013 - Free Week at Frank - Ready for the new year! we start this Wednesday January 2nd at Frank at 10PM during the Austin Vida Free Week 2013 Ready for the new year! we start this Wednesday January 2nd at Frank at 10PM during the Austin Vida Free Week 2013
